Every so often the promos for Boston Legal air and I wonder who dreads it more. I hate it because for me it is almost pure torment, like being held prisoner in a room decorated with emaciated, melancholy waifs and velvet Elvises. My friends hate it because they must again listen to me clamor and kvetch about the passing of David E. Kelley's brilliant long-running television series, The Practice.
It would not rile me so (I suspect) had it not been replaced by the ghastly Boston Legal. I say 'replaced' because Boston Legal was a calculated spin-off of The Practice, devised to exploit TP's success while providing a bandage to its betrayed participants. BL may be high-end kitsch. It may be reasonably intelligent, facile, airy, breezy, "Did they really say that?" kitsch. But it is kitsch, nonetheless.
For those of you unacquainted with the perceived politics leading to the Boston Legal debacle, I'll try to give you the short version. Some of this may not be germane, but on the very plausible chance that it is, I'll proceed. Please bear in mind that most of this is gloss and speculation. After a remarkably successful run, The Practice was, for one reason or another, on shaky ground. Whether his cast, whose stock had skyrocketed since the show's inception had become too costly, I could not say for sure. I only know that from all journalistic sources I tapped that Kelley blindsided his formidable troupe of players by cancelling the series abruptly and promptly making himself unavailable to them. They found out from the media.
The Practice began as a Sunday evening legal drama that showed little promise. It seemed muddled and uninspired and yes, it took a while to hit its stride. But oh, when that miraculous moment arrived... I know this next bit is going to sound melodramatic but there you go. When I watch reruns of The Practice in syndication my heart just aches. I never cease to be astonished at the punchy, poignant writing, the raucous plots that ranged from deadpan hilarity to intense, topical debate that cut to the heart of the human struggle. Often in the same case. Often they would cover several cases in an episode, cutting back and forth to keep the tension (and comic relief) going.
Yes, it was an ongoing structure, but the virtuosity of the content, the brilliant, intuitive acting, and Kelley's ability to fuse the horrific, the wrenching, with subtle, sardonic humor saved it from being trite. The Practice was never afraid to show its principals in a less than favorable light. Bobby (Dylan McDermott), the founder of the small firm, was ingenious in the courtroom but his personal life was a trainwreck. Helen Gamble (Lara Flynn Boyle) the beautiful, poised, prosecuting attorney struggled with ethical issues but was no more afraid of bending the law in her own way than were the attorneys of Donnell and Associates.
Article comments
1 - Shari
I feel your pain and I congratulate you on not using the words "ethically-challenged" to describe Alan Shore.
One of Kelley's biggest problems is with female characters who he has lost the ability to write without keeping Ally McBeal firmly in mind. A character is either neutered or obsessed with sex.
Perhaps part of the problem is that Kelley can't see a woman in anything but a sexual way unless she's elderly or overweight and there's a paucity of either type of woman on BL save Candace Bergen and the occasional Betty White appearance. And Shirley Shmidt is essentially one of his neuters.
As you mentioned, they've stripped Shore of most of his bite by chaining him to Denny Crane and offering him too few interesting cases in which to showcase his unconventional personality. The reason his character worked so well in The Practice was because his stay there was short-lived. Now that he's a part of the regular staff at Crane, Pool and Schmidt, he's had to be toned down a lot to keep at least a shred of credibility to his continued employment. Shore as a character would work a lot better as a solo practitioner.
2 - TV & FG
Personally, I think that "The Practice" was an excellent show early in its run, and then much like Kelley's "Ally McBeal" severely lost its way and needed to disappear (possibly a couple of seasons before it did).
I also find "Boston Legal" absolutely hysterical, and quite clever. I think it's funny in a way "McBeal" never was and handles court and the law in a far better manner than "The Practice" ever did. I think the in-jokes on "Boston Legal" are great and Shatner is fantastic as an utterly ridiculous, over-the-top character. And what about Candice Bergin, Julie Bowen and the rest? It's a really well-rounded bunch of supporting players. I'd actually argue that "Boston Legal" took till about the end of its first season before it hit its stride and that the second season was truly inspired.
I am very much looking forward to wherever it may head from here.
3 - Ty
I totally feel you, but I still watch BL because of the lack of 100% courtroom drama's on TV (L&O doesn't count because it is not 100% legal drama)...thank god Justice and Shark are two new 100% legal dramas to add some flavor to world of 100% legal drama.
4 - NancyGail
I take it you don't like BL. I don't always either, and I do the reviews. Perhaps the best part (for me) is the real life situations which get made into storylines. Oh, The Practice in its last season happend like this-DEK was told tht the only way it would happen was if he fired half his cast. From what I've read, Alan Shore then was a lot nastier. However, his adeptness at that still manages to come out.
5 - Baronius
I agree with every word you said about The Practice, except calling Lara Flynn Boyle beautiful. When The Practice was firing on all cylinders, it was amazing. The last season was horrible, and it has kept me away from Boston Legal. Shore/Spader is a caricature of - of what? I have no idea. Crane is, as near as I can figure, a caricature of Shore.
I still can't believe that a show could be so bad that I wouldn't watch Julie Bowen.
I've been thinking about The Practice recently, mainly because of Justice. I liked the way cases would take from 1/2 to maybe five episodes. Justice feels so forced in fitting that 44 minute limit. Of course, both shows abuse the "murder trial starts in two days" cliche. That was my favorite absurdity on The Practice. "Sure we'll take the case. When does the trial start?" Heh.
6 - Jewels
Nicely written, I understand your affinity with TP but I find the bada bing humor of Boston Legal more to my liking. I do think that Kelley needs to start doing something different with Spader. (Regarding Shatner, he's on target with him, actually.) With James, it is getting old and not so clever anymore. There is so much more Spader's character could do - the first season was really well done, but he is (Kelley) losing his way a bit with some of the characterizations getting trite and boring. Enjoyed the article.
7 - Christopher Soden
I appreciate everyone's thoughtful and reasoned feedback. To my mind, what Kelley has done with BOSTON LEGAL amounts to the same as taking a fine meal (roast lamb, potatoes, brussels sprouts, salad, Italian Cream Cake) pureed it in a Cuisinart, and spoon fed it like baby food to audiences too stupid or lazy to appreciate being intrigued or challenged. I'm sick of the way so many members of the entertainment industry PANDER to the philistines and knuckleheads. If Kelley were an escort they'd be calling BOSTON LEGAL: "Hand Job."
8 - alpe
What did you think of "Murder One" - should you have happened to watch it?
9 - zour
I've just finished watching the very last episode of BL. It was such a great pleasure!
If you were tied up to german television series like I am, you'd never ever write so harsh about BL. Instead your tv set would be no more.
TV series here are almost all shallow, featherbrained and boring. No TV station does something like Kelley does.
BL seems to take a lot politics into courtroom, replaying obscure or prominent verdicts and being
fun with these topics all the time.
I can understand some kind of disappointemnt while having so many good stuff on TV. But for me
Boston Legal is just a life raft.
The 4th seaoson of The Practice will be dubbed soon. Maybe I'll agree with you afterwards.
10 - Christopher Soden
I thought MURDER ONE was excellent.